Elizabeth W. Ludwig

Elizabeth (Betty) Whitmore Ludwig, 93, of New Holland, PA went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Born on October 17, 1931 in Harrisburg, PA, the daughter of Raymond and Miriam Hackman Whitmore, she graduated from New Holland High in 1949. After attending Elizabethtown College for a year, she married Eugene W. Ludwig in 1950 and they celebrated 50 years together before he passed in 2001. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Robert and Evers (Scoop) Whitmore. She is survived by three children, Michael Ludwig (Tina Friday), State College, PA, Brian Ludwig, New Holland, PA and Tess (Teresa) Miller (Richard), New Holland, PA. Six grandchildren, Christina Ludwig Taheri, Daniel Ludwig, Johnathan Ludwig, Christopher Miller, Matthew Miller and Eric Miller and five great-grandchildren.

Betty’s parents moved to New Holland after purchasing the local newspaper, The New Holland Clarion around 1932. Betty was 16 years old when she started keeping the books for the Clarion. It was incorporated in 1958 with Bob, Evers and Betty becoming officers and running the paper. Both Betty and her husband worked at the Clarion for many years until they started their own businesses, Ludwig Office Furniture and Ludwig Business Forms in 1966. They sold the Office Furniture in 1986, but Ludwig Business Forms continued in the family until 2011 and Betty did the bookkeeping until she was 80 years old.

She was a lifelong member of St. Stephen Reformed Church, where she took care of the flowers for 17 years, taught Sunday school, prepared and served lunch for funerals, made soup for the Farm Show stand, roasted many turkeys for the Community Thanksgiving meal and helped with breakfast with Santa. She was also a member of the New Holland Area Women’s Club and the Business and Professional Women’s Club and was named Business Woman of the Month.

Betty was a very kind and loving mother and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She seemed to have a gift for getting along with everyone she met. She was very active in the community and had many friends. They were all so special but Kathryn, whom she loved to go antiquing with, was probably her best friend. The two of them made time for tea and conversation nearly every single day for 40 years. Another dear friend, Beverly, took her to lunch almost every Friday for 20+ years, and during the last year of Betty’s life, even though Beverly could not take her out to lunch, she made sure to visit every Friday. Also, thank you to her friend of more than 80 years, Betty H., who visited her so faithfully, too. We are so grateful for everyone who visited over the years.

Betty enjoyed spending time with her family in the mountains at the family cabin and entertaining at her home during the holidays.

The family would like to thank the staff in Wintergarden at Garden Spot Village for the wonderful care given to Betty this past year.

The Funeral Service will be on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 East Main Street, New Holland, PA with Rev. Dr. Drew DiNardo officiating. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Beck Funeral Home, 315 East Main Street, New Holland, PA, from 6:00-8:00 pm and Thursday, July 10, 2025, at St Stephen Reformed Church from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Burial will occur immediately following the funeral in the adjoining church cemetery.

To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.BeckFuneral.com

Arrangements by the Beck Funeral Home, New Holland, PA.

Donations can be made to The Samaritan Fund at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 E. Main St., New Holland, PA.